Infant monitoring device

Abstract

An infant monitoring device is disclosed having a band or sock configured to wrap around the foot or other portion of an infant. The sock houses a removable sensing module configured to couple to the sock and measure health parameters of the infant. The sensing module is removably couplable with a base station that charges the sensing module. The sensing module transmits and receives information from the base station. Both the base station and the sensing module can transmit and receive information from a remote location.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An infant monitoring device, comprising:
 a garment configured to be worn about a portion of a body of an infant, the garment comprising a planar base and a planar strap, wherein the planar base comprises an inner layer and an outer layer, and wherein the planar base is configured to be removably coupled to a sensing module; 
 the sensing module comprising fabric enclosure having opposing wings and an electronics sub-assembly comprising opposing wings extending outward from a portion of the electronics sub-assembly, said wings comprising one or more sensors configured to collect information from the infant; 
 wherein the opposing wings of the electronics sub-assembly are coupled to the opposing wings of the fabric enclosure; and 
 wherein the opposing wings of the fabric enclosure are sized to approximate a void formed in the inner layer so as to at least partially secure the sensing module to the garment. 
 
     
     
       2. The infant monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing module comprises a charging enclosure covering a circuit board and further housing a battery coupled to the circuit board. 
     
     
       3. The infant monitoring device of  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the charging enclosure extends through a through-hole in the planar base of the garment. 
     
     
       4. The infant monitoring device of  claim 2 , wherein the charging enclosure comprises a ridge disposed about the charging enclosure, said ridge defining a top portion of the charging enclosure, the top portion of the charging enclosure being disposed about a first side of the planar base of the garment, a bottom portion of the charging enclosure being disposed about a second, opposite side of the planar base of the garment. 
     
     
       5. The infant monitoring device of  claim 2 , wherein the fabric enclosure is triangular shaped and is coupled to a portion of the planar base that is triangular shaped. 
     
     
       6. The infant monitoring device of  claim 2 , wherein the electronics sub-assembly further comprises an antenna configured to receive and transmit data collected by the sensors to a base station. 
     
     
       7. The infant monitoring device of  claim 2 , wherein the charging enclosure comprises a flexible trace coupled to the circuit board and a spring contact pin pressing against an internal wall of the charging enclosure. 
     
     
       8. The infant monitoring device of  claim 2 , wherein the sensing module further comprises an attachment plate shaped to approximate a bottom perimeter of the charging enclosure, the attachment plate being coupled to a bottom of the charging enclosure. 
     
     
       9. The infant monitoring device of  claim 2 , wherein the charging enclosure comprises a charging contact. 
     
     
       10. The infant monitoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing module comprising the fabric enclosure, electronics sub-assembly, and sensors is formed into a single unit. 
     
     
       11. An infant monitoring device and base station, comprising:
 a garment configured to be worn about a portion of a body of the infant, the garment comprising a base, wherein the base is configured to be removably coupled to a sensing module; 
 the sensing module comprising fabric enclosure, wherein the base comprises a void sized to approximate opposing wings formed on the fabric enclosure, the void configured to at least partially secure the sensing module to the garment; 
 the fabric enclosure housing an electronics sub-assembly having sensors configured to collect information from the infant, wherein a portion of the electronics sub-assembly is housed within a charging enclosure, the charging enclosure coupleable to a base station; 
 the base station comprising a housing having a planar base and sidewalls, the sidewalls tapering from a first height on a first side of the base station to a second height on a second opposite side of the base station forming a sloping top face. 
 
     
     
       12. The monitoring device and base station of  claim 11 , wherein the sloping face comprises a depression shaped to approximate a top portion of the charging enclosure. 
     
     
       13. The monitoring device and base station of  claim 11 , wherein the base station comprises a light source coupled to a power source and a circuit board. 
     
     
       14. The monitoring device and base station of  claim 13 , wherein the base station comprises an antenna configured to transmit and receive data collected by the sensing module.